A mother-of-two from Northern Ireland has died in her sleep while on holiday in Crete.

Julie Gray, from south Belfast, had been on the Greek island for a few days when she passed away on August 16.

Several hundred attended the 44-year-old’s funeral in St Malachy’s Church in Belfast yesterday.

Earlier, the funeral cortege had made its way from the Gray family home in the nearby Markets area.

Mrs Gray had been employed as a worker at St Malachy’s Primary School.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph yesterday, Mrs Gray’s brother Liam said it had been a very traumatic time for the family since his sister’s death.

He added that there was now a feeling of relief that she had finally been laid to rest.

“It’s been a long few days,” he added.

He described her as “a very special sister, who I loved so dearly”.

It is understood it took around a week for Mrs Gray’s body to be returned to Northern Ireland from Crete.

Friends and family who attended her funeral yesterday heard that she was a committed mother who lived for her two children Liam (18) and Hannah (14) — who both attend St Joseph’s College in Belfast — and her husband Eddie, a well-known bus driver.

Mrs Gray’s sudden death stunned the tight-knit community in the Markets.

Among the scores of newspaper tributes was one from two friends, Angie and Alan.

It read: “We shared a lot through the years — lots of laughter and also tears.

“But what I’ll treasure most is our friendship.”

Mrs Gray’s cousin Marie’s tribute read: “I wish that I had told you more often that I cared.

“I am so grateful for the happy times we shared.”

Her aunt Flo’s tribute read: “We will meet again Julie. We’ll talk and laugh together again.”

A tribute from friend Eileen Murdock and her family said: “Sleep tight Jules.

“Don’t worry, I will be there when Eddie, Liam and Hannah need me.”

It added: “We laughed together, cried together, and were always there for one another.

“I will always hold you close in my heart — and never forget the good times we had.”